New Corn Maze Opens to Public

Rosa Vasquez and her two kids reached a fork in the corn maze and paused.

“This is hard,” said Vasquez, 33, of Reseda, who brought a bottle of water. “We should’ve brought something to eat. We’re going to leave dying of hunger and from the heat.”

Luckily, like all participants, the family carried a tall red flag to make it easier for park staff to find them. Then a voice over the intercom said: “If you feel you’ve been at the same place two or three times, you probably have and you’re lost. Shake your flag up and down so we can find you out there.”

The family shook their flag and got help. They weren’t the only ones confused by the 3.3-mile maze, which opened to the public Saturday.

Its pathways, rows of cornstalks shaped like the California bear and a star, are visible from the air over the Sepulveda Dam Recreation Area.

Scott Schaffner was lost but upbeat. “I’m letting my wife lead, so we should really get lost now,” joked Schaffner, 38, of Oak Park, who also brought his two kids.

Kurt Robinson pulled out after reaching six of the maze’s 10 stations in an hour. But he said he was eager to return after the cornstalks grew higher, making the maze harder to complete.

“Once it grows six or seven feet, we’ll never get out of there,” said Robinson, 45, of Van Nuys.

Stations, which are marked by large umbrellas, contain water fountains, misters, and tables and chairs. They also have mailboxes containing clues. A scout is stationed on a 100-foot observation tower to look for people in trouble.

The maze also has its rules. No running or throwing objects in it. Participants also can’t smoke in the maze or take or eat the corn.

Weekly cash prizes will be awarded to the fastest people to make it through the maze, said Greg Cole, president of Encino-based Seasonal Adventures Inc., which organized the corn maze. In about October, the winners will be invited to race for $2,000, he said.

Admission to the park, which is slightly northeast of Burbank Boulevard and Woodley Avenue, is $7 for children and $9 for adults. More than 1,500 children representing schools and other groups planted 65 plots of corn in the field and the top three planters will win prizes.